Biodiversity Action Plan Review 2013

Rehabilitation updates

David Fallon

• Bog restoration programme

• Rehabilitation trial updates

Drumman, Kilmacshane,

Bunahinly, Blackwater,

Drinagh, Srahmore Sphagnum

trials

• New rehabilitation trials

Ballycon Heather, Erenagh,

Japanese Knotweed,

Kilmacshane

• Bellacorick study

•Communications

Rehabilitation updates

Derrydoo-Woodlough

Oweninny

Srahmore

Kilmacshane

Ballydangan

Erenagh

Blackwater

Drumman

Bord na Móna Bog Restoration Programme

•Ditched bogs early 1980s

•Biodiversity survey

•Areas designated as BnM

biodiversity areas in 2009

•Ongoing project –1000+ha

planned to date

•Consulting with all

stakeholders

•NPWS also assessing bogs

as part of SAC/NHA review

•New excavator purchased

solely for this work

Bord na Móna Bog Restoration Programme

Work programme

•Level survey of bog

•Construction of dams

•Ongoing monitoring of

the site

• to date 695ha of raised

bog restored

Derrydoo Woodlough - 443ha

•Phase 1 Moyarwood Bog

•Restoration work

commencement in 2012

•Completed 2013 – 190ha

Ballydangan South - 238ha

•Restoration work commencement – September

2013

•Ongoing 2013/2014 –75% completed

Drumman

• Vegetate area of bare peat

• 18.3 ha

• Nurse crops planted in April 2010 –

– Triticale (+ fertiliser)

– Reed Canary Grass (+ fertiliser)

– Fertiliser on its own

– Fertiliser and lime.

RCG – 100% vegetation cover with Birch and mosses

Triticale – 50% vegetation cover with Birch mosses

and Willowherb

Fertiliser and lime 2010

2013

100% vegetation cover

-grasses and rushes

-some birch and willow

Drumman – fertiliser only

2010

2013

50-75% vegetation cover

- Birch, mosses and Willowherb

Kilmacshane

crop trials

Reed Canary Grass

100% vegetation cover

- RCG growth with pioneer species

Kilmacshane

crop trials

Triticale

2010

2013

10-25% vegetation cover

-pioneer species

SRAHMORE PDA – Sphagnum pools June 2012: 250+ pools (4x8m excavated in stabilised peat)

Srahmore Sphagnum Trial 2013

2013 – 250 ponds excavated and inoculated with Sphagnum

Area – 2.4ha, work completed August 2011

• An overall increase in vegetation cover

• Water levels have risen

• Increase in Bog Cotton cover

• Decrease in Heather cover

• Colonisation by Sphagnum, White Beak

Sedge and Deergrass

Bunahinly re-wetting

Bunahinly re-wetting

2011

Blackwater reedbed trial Start date – March 2010

- Seed collection, Common Reed and

Reedmace (Bulrush)

- Process seed heads

- Seed sown at Kilmacshane September

2012

- 2013 no seed germination

- unsuccessful trial – seed viability, weather

conditions?

Kilmacshane Reed Seed Trial

Drinagh

• BnM and Birdwatch Ireland joint project

• Wader habitat creation

• Re-profiling high fields

• Scrub removal

• Block outfalls

Drinagh wetland bird project

- 31 ha

-second area rehabilitated

- Successful development of wetlands

- Breeding waders in first year

- Minor Birch re-growth from first year

- Ongoing monitoring of water levels and

site development

Breeding wader survey

-Lapwing +20%

-Redshank +67%

-Snipe +129%

Copland et al. 2013

Ballycon Heather trial

- Heather cut in Ballydangan,

October 2013

- November 2013 site

preparation work carried out in

Ballycon

- Heather brash spread on

prepared ground in Ballycon

Erenagh re-wetting project

Mount Dillon Works

-Area of cutaway

- Work began in November 2013 –

ongoing

- Allow wetland to develop

Japanese Knotweed

•Invasive alien species

•5 sites identified during

the ecology survey

•Treatment with

Glyphosate (herbicide)

• Bare peat

2001 - 53.3%

2011 - 11.7%

Pioneer poor fen

44.4% increase

Vegetation succession post rehabilitation of an

industrial cutaway Atlantic blanket bog Research MSc with I.T. Sligo

Bellacorick

• Sphagnum-rich poor

fen habitats

2001 -1%

2011 - 7%

• Pinus contorta

increased by 7%

Oweninny Rehabilitation

COMMUNICATIONS!!!

Community Group Projects

Consultation

NUIG MSc Students Irish Peatland Council

Teagasc Visiting Student

Thank You

Agenda

• 9.00 am Gerry Ryan Welcome and Introduction

• 9.15 am Mark McCorry Rehabilitation planning & updates

• 9.45 am David Fallon Rehabilitation updates

• 10.15 am Coffee

• 10.45 am David Wilson Carbon in cutaway peatlands: Will it stay or will it go

• 11.15 am Paddy Woodworth Ecological restoration as a global strategy for the recovery of native biodiversity

• 11.45 am John Reilly Bord na Mona's Wind Development Strategy to 2030

• 12.15 pm Discussion

• 12.30 pm Lunch

• 1.15 pm Bus leaves for Mountlucas

• 4.00 pm Bus returns to Tullamore Court Hotel